Science and fiction titles Litmus Short Stories from Modern Science - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Comma Press

Science and fiction titles

Litmus

Short Stories from Modern Science

• Ed. Ra Page

Featuring: Sarah Hall, Sara Maitland, Stella Duffy, Kate Clanchy Alison MacLeod, Sean O'Brien, Maggie Gee, Jane Rogers, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Adam Marek and more. With: Prof Jim Al-Khalili, Prof Denis Noble, Prof Giacomo Rizzolatti, Dr Martyn Amos, Dr Tim O’Brien, Dr Rob Appleby and more. ‘Exquisite…delectable’ – New Scientist 'Works brilliantly... ingenious... unfailingly interesting’ – The Independent

Litmus – The concept

• 15 stories that retell key moments of scientific

discovery.

• Authors work in consultation with a scientific

advisor.

• Each scientific advisor provides an afterword on

the scientific content.

• Brings science to life for the lay-reader.
• Dispels ‘Eureka’ myths, and foregrounds the

collaborative nature of scientific research.

The Rules

• The science had to be right.
• No anachronisms.
• Fictional characters could be created but no

part of the discovery could be credited to them.

• The scientist didn’t need to be the main

character.

Commissioning

• Think about how the book will be marketed

during the commissioning stage.

• Hang the book on a concept that can be

summarised in a couple of sentences.

• Cross-pollination of fiction readership.
• Cross-pollination of science readership.

During the creative process

• Let people play to their strengths.
• Encourage the authors to make use of their

advisor.

• Allow the authors to take creative risks.
• Be prepared to mediate.

Marketing

Use your partners’ reach:

• Authors (social media, interviews, by-line

publicity)

• Scientists (social media, university publicity

mechanism)

• Launch event: Festivals
• Press reviews
• Broadcast media

Litmus launch at the Hay Festival, May 2011